The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-01-28

iioff tlt Yet 20 3cadrr ;ulu wuGr,ufA.
llH cii rtsryc, which WA, oi diun +,
ana nui peld,, astracied Inn. ailu,Ni..D.
nsed ~ he vas 10 beng niuc nluch ut,
q may have pqud hm rs wei.
As Yet. although he had mad such
good ,ise oi ms opportunities tnal ,ae
little cottage had seen hia a number oil
tmcs. Juila had not met Miss Marsh.
Nor had She desired To. she seemed
,singcr, and already in her Thoughts
classcd Dirolhea Marsh ms her toe
That anyone could be- looked upon
with favor by Loyal and not reciproca,e
the sentiment would have seemed inn
possible TO her.
And so, although Loyal could find no
fault in Julia's manner, Doroihea could
recognize behind the perfect courtesy
the concealed antagonism.
The days slipped by rapidly, and, to
Loyal, delightfully."-. 10 Dorothea not
SO much the latter. Conflicting feel
ngs made n tumult within her mind.
LoyalPs regard for her was growing too
manifest to be misunderstood. and she
felt, with sensation of extreme regret.
that ere long that would have to be said
which would put an end to friendship
that had been, so she acknowledged 10
herself, pcrilously pleasant. For al
! though she enjoyed his society, and felt
the charm of his handsome personality
Loyal Vail was not Dorothea's ideal.
HE Is an idler," she said within her.
self. The man | love must he noble,
strong one 10 whom can look up and
proudly cali my hearts master. Then,
too. his sister dislkcs me, dsdains me.
probably, because | am poor teacher
and she lies among tho roses and lilies
OF life. That alone would keep me
from ever listening TO her brothers suit
And yet hate to sever the golden cord
OF friendship have found so agree
able But it must be done. But Loyal
is in no haste TO put his fate to the test
and lose or win all. F"
1t is the second week of August when
one day 'hc bids his sister and Dorothea
farewell for time. He is obliged to-
GO upon brief business trip to attend
to the sale of some property. He has
been gone Out a couple of days when
something unforeseen happens.
Julia Vail, from apparently perfect
health, is stricken with an illness which
rapidly assumes II grave and alarming
character.
1t is pronounced To be fever of dam
gerous type.
Poor Julia has no mother no sister.
no friend near ut hand. Who is there
to nurse hcrp the doctor anxously en-
quires. In all Glendale there is but one
volunteer TO undertake the dangerous
task, and that is Dorothea Marsh.
IL have had the fever, and i am not
afraid. | will take care of your pa
tient, Dr. Grant" she says, IF you can
trust NE.
Trust YOU! l could trust you in any
situation, Miss Dorothea," the old man
exclaims.
lie has known the girl from her baby
hood and knows what he speaks, for he
has moro than once before had occasion
TO thank her for assistance rendered in
emergencies.
And so, when Julia comes out of the
fever that has beclouded her reason, she
finds the beautiful face of her brothers
friend bent solicitously above her.
Another week finds her rs deeply in
love as Loyal, if that were possible.
A fortnight slips by, and the con-
yalcscent is making rapid strides to-
wards recovery. As yet, Dorothaa
shares Jula's quarantine. Notes come
every day from Loyal. who, since his
return. has been residing ut II house
some distance away.
Julia often reads them aloud. There
il frequently some allusion TO or mes
sage for Dorothea. who receives them
with such entire calmness that julia cx-
| claims one day:
''Dorothca. if you are. rs you seem to
be, 50 indifferent TO my brother, why did
you come like an angel of goodness to
me in my needP'
because of that need" Dorothea re-
plies. "Old DR.. Grant has often said
that n good nurse was lost when l took
the village school,"
But, although she speaks so quietly, u
little color steals into her face, which
confinement has robbed of its wonted
roses; and Julia, seeing. takes comfort.
At last all danger of infection is pro-
nounccd over, and Dorothea returns to
her home and duties.
A few days only have elapsed before
Loyal seeks her.
IL is late in the afternoon. anu DorO-
thea is alone in the garden, enjoying
the rcstful quiet that is so welcome after
the stir and buzz of the school-room.
AS she sees him approaching, with his
handsome face all aglow with the de-
light of meeting her again, porothea
shrinks.
What she has dreaded she feels in
stinctivcly is ut hand. And she IS
right, for it is but short step between
gratitude and lovc; and when Loyal
had finished thanking her for her kind
offices To his dear sister, he turns with
impctuous abruptncss to the hopes and
wishes his own heart has cherished the
past few months.
Tine passion Of his tones moves her;
hers would be hard nature, indeed,
could it fail to be thrilled by such earn
ostncss, and yet in the beautiful troubled
face before him. which he is gazing
upon with loving eyes, Loyal does not
read what he longs for.
A cold hand clutches his heart Has
he been dcluding HIMSELF
Speak! Answer me, Dorothca! DO